Another happppy dura-whatever owner

[PZicha]

rbagley... ... ..... I think they all make a great truck and they all make their fair share of friday lemons . I personaly don,t mind chevy's but i'm not to big on the look of the front ends . dodge does however install the cummins at a lower power rating hence your performance difference (warrenty issues). they are just as comfortable pushing 300hp @725ft/lb like some of the larger land barges recieve (motor homes) . I think your responce would be different if your motor was brought up to those STOCK RATINGS . I followed behind a truck pulling a 5th wheel once with my wifes ford explorer and was in total disbelief on its performance , I was deep into the floorboards trying to keep up especialy pulling the hills... . it was a duramax . one thing that does pi$$ me off is the constant heart beat of america crap or the chevy rules I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER shoved in my face by all the chevy diehards out here . just last week some moron in a 1980ish chevy rust bucket told me beautyfull truck to bad its a dodge . for me its not the truck but the tit driving it... ... ... ... . Pete

 

[rbagley]

Yes, if I brought my Dodge up to the same power level, I would definitely beat my fathers Dmax, as I am about 800 pounds lighter on any given day.



Problem is, I would like my AT to last for at least another 50,000 miles. I don't really want to put out the $$$$ for a better transmission right now. And from what I've read here, any power upgrade will bring on the transmission upgrade, whether you want it or not!

 

[athompson]

Before I bought my Ram, I did almost 2 years of research. At the time I owned a K1500 with an auto trans. My research was oriented around the 3/4 ton 4x4s. After my first 4x4, I will never have another truck that isn't.



The IFS immediately eliminated the Chevy, even though I liked the specs of the Duramax. This left the Ford and the Dodge. I've never been much of a Ford fan, but I did like the locking hub option. They also seemed to have more interior room than the Dodge.



It seemed odd to me that the HUGH Ford V8 diesel produced so little power when compared to the TINY I6 in the Dodge. Also, after hearing my neighbors Ram diesel starting up every morning for the last 7 years, I grew to like the sound. The PowerStroke sounded too much like a gaser.



What really swayed me to the Ram was that the engine, transmission (manual, there was absolutely no way I would ever buy anything with a Dodge auto trans), transfer case, and axles were NOT made by Dodge. If Chevy hadn't started putting IFS on their HDs, I may have test drove one, maybe even bought one.

 

[Will24]

I have a pretty good reason for disliking duramaxes, I have the great privledge of hunting down non-existant parts for them even when a minor problem arises... We had a customer leave the dealership in his BRAND NEW $45 THOUSAND dollar duramax and not even make it home, took a week and a half to get a replacement electronic accel. pedal for the friggin thing. Even "GM" filters for the things are imported pieces of crap in generic packaging with a gm part tag stuck to them





-Will

Asst. Parts Manager

A chevy dealer (for anyone who needs to know what dealership, it's # 515177)

 

[rbagley]

Anyone who paid $45,000 for a Dmax got screwed. And why don't you use AC-Delco filters?

 

[Will24]

A. Sticker price was like $46k, the guy paid I believe $45,2



B. So I stand partially corrected, the GM recommended filter is a 96xxxxxx number that comes in a 100% generic white import carton with a plain unlabeled filter inside



Thanks

Will

 

[rbagley]

Sure there is, my dad's been using them for right at a year now.

 

[rbagley]

AC-Delco PF2232, $15 at O'Reilly Auto Parts. Wix 57202 for $9. 69 at the same store

 

[_MACKIN]

The white boxed import filter is black and is an Isuzu element... . AC Delco PF2232 is approved and is only $10 bucks at my stealer I use... ... If the guy paid 42 grand he got ripped..... My truck 01 LOADED D/A leather dually 4x4 ext cab on the lot $43 and change I paid $37,800..... I'd rather walk then get ripped off no matter the brand.....



MAC



Got to watch what filter you use in these trucks... ... . They will build up to 135 PSI on a frosty below zero morning in the north running 15w40 dino... . Seen the TSB... ... .

 

[Will24]

The truck I mentioned is a 2002 crew cab 2500 SRW long bed, EVERY OPTION available, allison, leather, heated seats/mirrors power seats/mirrors/locks/windows EVERYTHING. If I can I will get a copy of the invoicefor proof. This was a VERY nice truck, all black, tan interior alloys etc.





here's a question, any d-max owners here have a problem finding the block heater plug the first time?



-will

 

[rbagley]

He got ripped.



I guess your dealership can start selling good filters now that you know the part number and where to get them, huh?

 

[Will24]

Yeah Rbagley we can now go buy filters wholesale from O'whatever, uh huh, I'll run that by the boss...

 

[rbagley]

AC-Delco filters. Sold by GM dealerships across the country. Why is it that you don't know that???

 

[DPKetchum]

Hi,long time Dodge owner and 4 years in a Dodge service dept. I've been asking Duramax owners how they like them. They all say good things about them. Some own business and have Dodge/Cumming,Ford/powerstrokes,like the Duramax best of all in power,comfort and handling. Say time will tell. Like the Fords the lest,say too many engine problems etc. The head issue was apprantly a recall on early Duramax about bolts streaching or something. Owners I talked to said we done in a timly manor. Just what I've heard so far.

 

[MABurns]

Yeah I had a hard time finding the heater plug... ... after getting the zip strips off it-- it is just a hair to short,, poor design... ... your point. ?

I owned a 94 and 99 CTD equipped Dodge Ram and I can honesstly say my 2002 Chevy with the Duramax/Allison Combo pulls better... ... rides better..... and gets better milage... ... and best of all it has a full size back seat with four full size doors.



If it isn't a 4x4 aren't all Dodges IFS too? And I do not think it will be to long before you see Class 8's with IFS.



To each his own!

 

[Will24]

MABurns, it was an honest question, we have had more than one customer call and ask how much a block heater costs, just to explain to them that they already have a block heater. In all cases where someone called, we had them bring their trucks in and one of the techs got the cord out of behind the shield while the truck was on a lift, problem solved. It was just a simple honest question out of curiousity





-Will

 

[MABurns]

My fear was that I would cut the cord when I cut the zip strips.



The first thing on the assembly line must have been that cord!!



Not meant to be smartass reply : "what is your point", I

thought you had some new part number for a longer one. (Not that I want to tackle geting it hooked to the block.

 

[John Berger]

Curb Weight

What is the curb weight of your father's Duramax as it came from the factory? After adding tools and other items?



I'm putting close to 300 ponies down at the rear wheel on my Dodge. I'm not afraid of Chevy being rated higher, faster or more comfortable. That's a matter of individual perspective, anyway. The best thing about my truck relative to the other two on the market is that I have a real truck engine under the hood, not only in construction but in appearance and sound. The Fords and Chevy's are way to quiet and now Dodge has followed their lead with the new Cummins.



Short story- related concept: I grew up towards being a fourth generation farmer in New Jersey. There were alot of small towns and hamlets that the rest of the world didn't ever seem to notice until about 10 years ago. Well Interstate 78 gets completed and the city folk want to start commuting west and living in the country. Once they got there they tended to get irritated with farmers blocking roads when the cows were brought in for milking in the evening or morning. They also didn't like the smell. Why the he!! did they move to the country, if they didn't want the country. Same thing for a diesel pickup truck. Why have a diesel pickup truck if it looks, sounds and performs like a SUV or luxury car? I don't begrudge any one their choice or preference, I just don't get the irony of it all.

 

[MABurns]

I don't get your logic either. As long as I get the power and performance out of the diesel truck (+ longevity, towing performance, mileage etc) why not be comfortable too? Do you take your doors and windshield of your truck and through the AC compressor in the swamp? How about replacing your seat with a wooden bench, maybe the wheels for wooden ones with metal edges... ... . heck just get a horse and chase the cows.

 

[WadePatton]

I dog Chevy because I don't like GM. I think they put more crap out than the other Big Two. And they put out some seriously ugly/gimmicky stuff. The only folks I've met who SERIOUSLY believe that their brand is the ONLY brand have always been Chevy drivers.



I was a Ford guy before the Cummins. I bought a Cummins for many reasons and am beginning to like the Dodge that it came with.



They all have issues, but I've made my decision and think it was a no-brainer.



Biggest problem I have with D-max is finding one to race.